Shadow People: part 2

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Jaxon asked, his eyes fixed on the dreamthorn, its delicate petals swaying ominously in the wind.

Nienna took a step back, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that? It's your crazy idea, you go first," she scoffed, her voice laced with skepticism.

Jaxon's expression turned wry. "Aren't you the one who needs the map?" he fired back.

Nienna's face flushed with annoyance. "Aren't you the one who insisted on following me because I'm so danger-prone?" she retorted, her voice rising in indignation.

Jaxon sighed, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "Alright, alright, fighting will get us nowhere...we'll do it together," he said, his voice resigned.

Nienna's gaze flicked to the dreamthorn, its sinister beauty seeming to draw her in. She felt a shiver run down her spine as Jaxon stared at the thorn, his eyes burning with an inner intensity.

On the count of three, they both pricked their fingers on the thorn. Nienna stared at the blood coating her fingers, the wind billowing around them, the air frigid and chilly. But nothing was happening...the cut just stung.

Nienna turned to Jaxon, her eyes rolling in exasperation. "Any more ideas, smart guy?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Jaxon huffed, his eyes fixed on his fingers. "Just give it a second," he scoffed, his voice laced with annoyance.

But before he could say another word, Nienna clutched her chest, a blinding pain hitting her like a bolt of lightning. She doubled over, her hands flying to her chest as she tried to breathe.

"Nienna!" Jaxon rushed to her side, concern flooding his features. He grasped her shoulders, holding her upright as her vision began to blur.

Nienna's hands started to grow cold, her fingers numb and unresponsive. Jaxon's hands were cold too, his fingers intertwining with hers as they both stumbled to the ground.

Their visions started to recede, the world around them fading into darkness. Nienna felt herself being pulled down, down into a deep, dark abyss.

And then, everything went black.

The wind howled through the Valley of Shadows, the dreamthorn's delicate petals swaying ominously in the breeze. The graves loomed in the distance, their weathered headstones seeming to whisper secrets to the wind.

Nienna and Jaxon lay motionless on the ground, their bodies still and silent. But as the wind whispered through the valley, their chests began to rise and fall, their hearts beating with a slow, steady rhythm.

They were not dead...not yet. But they were close, very close. And as they lay there, suspended between life and death, the dreamthorn's dark magic began to weave its spell around them.

Nienna's eyes fluttered open, and she was met with a sight that made her blood run cold. She saw her own body lying on the ground, lifeless and still, beside Jaxon's equally motionless form. She felt a jolt of fear, realizing that she was floating above her own corpse, her spirit freed from its mortal coil.

As she looked down at her hands, she saw that they were black as coal, like shadows come to life. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that she was now a part of the shadow realm, a world of darkness and death.

She turned to look at the gate, and her eyes widened in shock. The desolate landscape was now teeming with shadowy figures, their dark forms twisting and writhing like living darkness. The air was thick with the stench of decay and death, and Nienna could feel the weight of the forgotten dead bearing down upon her.

She turned to look for Jaxon, and saw that he was already floating down the valley, his blackened form blending seamlessly into the shadows. She felt a surge of annoyance, realizing that he had left her behind.

"Just like you to leave without me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she floated after him.

Jaxon turned to her, a smug smile spreading across his face. "Well, death waits for no man," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Nienna rolled her eyes, but said nothing as they continued down the valley. The shadow realm was everything they had expected it to be - dark, foreboding, and filled with the restless spirits of the dead. There were no festivities, no laughter or conversation, just the mournful moans of the forgotten dead.

As they floated deeper into the valley, Nienna turned to Jaxon, her voice barely audible over the whispers of the dead. "Where do we go to look for it?" she asked, her eyes scanning the desolate landscape.

Jaxon pointed down to a column filled with artifacts that had been buried with the dead. The column was a grim reminder of the transience of life, a testament to the fact that even the most precious possessions were ultimately reduced to nothing more than dust and ashes.

Nienna's eyes narrowed as she gazed at the column, her mind racing with the possibilities. She knew that they had to be careful, that one misstep could trap them in this realm forever. But she also knew that they had to press on, no matter the danger, if they were to have any hope of finding the map and escaping the shadow realm alive.

As they delved deeper into the valley, the wind began to pick up, whispering ominous warnings in their ears. Nienna and Jaxon exchanged a nervous glance, their hearts racing with anticipation. They had been warned that the shadow realm was treacherous, but they had never expected to encounter a talking shadow.

The shadow's voice was like a rusty gate, creaking with age and wisdom. "And you two are?" it asked, its words hanging in the air like a challenge.

Nienna opened her mouth to respond, but Jaxon nudged her, his eyes flashing with warning. "We wanted to look into the lost city of Tamarang," he said, his voice smooth as silk.

The shadow nodded sagely, its dark form seeming to grow more substantial in the flickering light. "Unfortunately, that's not here anymore," it said, its voice dripping with regret. "The living heard about it and came here in search of it. It's now among a healer tribe up north, the Shadow Benders."

Nienna's shoulders slumped in defeat, exhaustion washing over her like a wave. They had come so far, only to be told that their goal was still out of reach. She felt like they were stuck in a never-ending cycle of journeying, always chasing after something that seemed just out of grasp.

But Jaxon's determination was unwavering. He thanked the shadow profusely, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light. "We'll find it," he said, his voice low and deadly. "We'll find the lost city, no matter what it takes."

As they turned to leave, the wind kicked up, swirling around them like a vortex. The sand formed a thick cloud of dust that obscured their vision, making it impossible to see each other.

"Whatever you do...don't turn back!" Jaxon's voice was lost in the howling wind, but Nienna heard him, her heart pounding in her chest. "Just keep moving, and don't turn back!"

But then, she heard it. A faint whisper, a soft voice that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. "Nienna..."

It was her mother's voice, a voice she thought she'd never hear again. Nienna's heart skipped a beat as she turned, her eyes scanning the dust-filled air for a glimpse of her mother's face.

And then, she saw them. Shadowy figures, their faces twisted into cruel grins, reaching out to grab her. Nienna tried to scream, but her voice was lost in the wind.

Jaxon's voice was distant, fading into the background as the shadows closed in around her. "Nienna, you idiot!" he yelled, his words echoing through the valley. "Just go, forget about me and go!"

But Nienna couldn't leave him. She turned back, her heart heavy with fear, and saw Jaxon fighting off the shadows, his eyes blazing with determination.

And then, something strange happened. Nienna felt herself being pulled upwards, towards her body, which lay motionless on the ground. She felt a jolt of pain as her spirit re-entered her body, and then, she was awake, gasping for air.

Ember was curled up on top of Jaxon, its eyes closed in sleep. Nienna's heart skipped a beat as she realized that Jaxon was still lying there, motionless.

"Jaxon," she whispered, her voice shaking with fear. "Please come back, I'm sorry I just had to turn around. I'm such an idiot."

She hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face as she begged him to come back. But Jaxon didn't move, didn't respond.

And then, suddenly, he did. His eyes flickered open, and he groggily sat up, rubbing his head. "God, why am I tasting salt?" he muttered, his voice husky with sleep.

Nienna pulled away, hastily wiping away her tears. "Sorry, I sweat when I um...when I hug people," she stammered, trying to hide her emotions.

Jaxon caught her eye, a small smile playing on his lips. "You were worried," he said, his voice low and gentle.

For a moment, they just looked at each other, the tension between them palpable. And then, Jaxon's expression hardened, he clenched his fist looking up.

"We will need to continue," he said, his voice firm. "I know where the Shadow Benders are. Let's go."

Nienna nodded, her heart still racing with fear. But she knew that she couldn't give up now. She had to keep moving, no matter what dangers lay ahead.